All the Ways to Let Jesus Down...

36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” (Matthew 26)
Matthew has a unique perspective on this night.  In the upper room he choses to focus only on Judas' betrayal and Peter's impending denial. Now, when they disciples go with Jesus to the Garden to pray, there is another let-down. They cannot find within themselves the ability to be there for Him when He needs them the most.  Matthew pictures for us all our potential at its worst.  By doing so He emphasizes how much we need Jesus: for prayer, for power, for persitence, and for setting the priorities in our lives. It is not just about what we can do for Jesus; it is what we will allow Him to do in and through us. 

Who Would You Die for?

30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 33 Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same. (Matthew 26)
None of us have ever been, nor will we ever be, in the place of Jesus, dying for the sins of the world.  Few of us will ever be in the place of Peter, where we could die for standing up for Jesus to the point of giving our lives. We often dream we would do differently than Peter; we deceive ourselves. There have been those brave souls who, by some action, have placed themselves in such a way as to end up giving their lives for someone else's.  How bold and brave of a stand are we prepared to make to stand up and speak up for Christ? What are we willing to lose, to forfeit, to "suffer" instead of "denying" our faith in Him?

When Something Stands Out

26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.” (Matthew 26)
This paragraph and the one before it are the only two memories of the upper room which Matthew shares. This is in stark contrast to John, who spends a few chapters on what Jesus did and said that night. The institution of the Lord's supper stands big in Matthew's memory.  Forgiveness does that.  It should for all of us: the fact that Jesus shed His blood and gave His life for us should be one of the most outstanding facts that intersects our lives.  It should also be what it was for Matthew - a reminder of the promise to which we look of His coming again, and our sharing with Him at His table.  

What Will You Remember?

17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?”18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.

20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. 21 And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23 He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.” (Matthew 26)

It is always interesting to compare the Gospel accounts to see what each one sees as important.  Here in Matthew, he skips over the washing of feet and other introductory details to go right to the betrayal by Jesus.  Looking back, he cannot believe how he and the others were so oblivious to what was going on. How could they have missed Judas' words or plot?  We often walk through life and it's individual days oblivious to what is going on, only to look back and see we have missed much of what is important.  May we go into today with our eyes wide open to see what God really has for us, take it all in, and respond in the way most fitting. 

What will be your name to fame?

14 Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him. (Matthew 26)
In yesterday's passage, Jesus said that the woman who lavished purfume on His feet and expressed worshipful devotion to Him would be remembered for what she had done.  In this passage we find waht Judas was remembered for: being the betrayer.  Obviously as a disciple for three years Judas had done some good things - otherwise there would have been no doubt by the other eleven when the next day Jesus announced one woud betray Him.  But for all the good he may have done, this one act, and the others related to it, remain his name to fame.  What will we be remembered for? For how long? May we make today count to do something of lasting value, lasting love, lasting service for Christ. 

Will there be enough for me?

6 Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. 8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste?9 For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.”10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial.13 Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” (Matthew 26)
Matthew is quite clear on this event: it was not just Judas who took offense at what seemed like a waste of money by this woman. Could not the money be better spent on the poor, or maybe even feeding and housing the twelve?  I find it interesting how we tend to view our needs and others' wants.  Many of the comforts of this life we see as necessities, and many needs of others seem as just an inconvenience to us.  Jesus says that this expense was a necessity - not just for Him, or the woman, but for the disciples as well. They needed to see and acknowledge that He was worthy of worship, and also that He was making a sacrifice they needed to accept as a free gift, costing them nothing but faith.  May He set us straight today on what is a need, and what is a want, both for us, and those He brings our way today.

Planning Ahead...

When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples,2 “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”

3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. 5 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.” (Matthew 26)

Jesus had answered all the questions. Time was winding down. He knew what was coming.  The religious leaders were making a plan, but knew less of the details than Jesus did.  How much of our lives is made plotting and planning to get our own way, instead of trusting in Jesus day by day to show the way?